Program: Vibrancy Funds

The 2020 Vibrancy Awards

Join New Sun Rising to Celebrate the People Building Vibrant Communities

New Sun Rising (NSR) is pleased to invite you to the 2020 Vibrancy Awards – live streamed from the Millvale Food + Energy Hub on June 20, 2020.

We understand that the past few weeks and months have been extremely difficult. Please join us for an evening of reflection, restoration, and celebration through the critical work being done by nonprofits and social enterprises throughout the region. The event will be hosted by Day Bracey, co-founder of Fresh Fest and Drinking Partners Podcast.

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View Sponsorship Opportunities

Virtual attendees will enjoy segments with the 2020 Impact Awardees in Culture (Brown Mammas), Sustainability (Triboro Ecodistrict), and Opportunity (South Hilltop Men’s Group), and wrap with a restorative DJ set and dance performance with virtual lounges. Make it a special night and invite some friends to enjoy a catered meal from Sprezzatura and special infused tea mixer from Tupelo Honey Teas (pre-order by 6/18 at 5PM)

Community Partner Awardees for Planning (Sharpsburg Community Vision Plan), Resources (Breathe Project), Connectivity (RiverWise), and Identity (Casop: A Requiem for Rice) will also be honored.

In this time of great pain we see the opportunity to rebuild something better. We ask that you join us and show support for the nonprofits and social enterprises who keep our communities sustainable and vibrant. Whether purchasing a ticket, making a donation, or joining as an event sponsor, NSR appreciates your commitment to helping us to strengthen the organizations and communities we serve.

Since 2005, NSR has been a champion for community-driven change by supporting nonprofits, businesses, and coalitions to create a better future for Southwestern Pennsylvanians. NSR works hard to provide accessible training, funding, and networking programs which are inclusive of underinvested populations and their neighborhoods.

Each year, over 170 innovative leaders benefit from NSR capacity building support. Since 2005, our Vibrancy Funds initiative has provide over $4.5 million in early stage funding and financing through fiscal sponsorship, grants, loans, and awards. Your contribution through the Vibrancy Awards will allow us to provide these training and funding programs at low or no cost.

The Vibrancy Awards are made possible through the generous support of:

2020 IMPACT AWARD SPONSORS

 

 

Learn More About Sponsorship Opportunities

Launch Culture Grant

The Vibrancy Funds support people building culture, sustainability, and opportunity within their community.

New Sun Rising is pleased to announce a new funding opportunity to launch organizations and collaborations who build Vibrant Communities. Through the generous support of the Henry L. Hillman Foundation, the following program seek proposals which promote innovation, engagement, and equity in the Pittsburgh region.

LAUNCH CULTURE

New Sun Rising believes that embracing the unique characteristics and knowledge of people is critical to promoting equitable change in our region. By building awareness of our culture, we can better understand the shared values that lead to trust and resiliency.

Projects which engage, explore, or express culture in their communities are encouraged to apply for a $5,000 to $10,000 Launch Culture Grant. While not necessary to apply, preference may be given to NSR Vibrant Communities (Allentown, Beltzhoover, Etna, Knoxville, McKees Rocks, Millvale, Northside neighborhoods, Sharpsburg, Stowe Township, Wilkinsburg), NSR fiscally sponsored projects, and Ignite Culture workshop participants.

In addition to the grant, Launch Culture Grantees will be provided 3 monthly coaching sessions. Questions will be answered by emailing vibrancyfunds@newsunrising.org or attending one of the following information sessions at the Millvale Moose, 112 Sherman St, Milllvale, PA 15209:

  • April 4, 2018 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM
  • April 24, 2018 from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM

Projects supported by this grant can start May 1st, 2018 and must end by November 30th, 2018.

CRITERIA

In acknowledgment of the importance and role of culture in our rapidly changing region, successful applicants will be established non-profit (or fiscally sponsored) organizations with a project demonstrating the following:

Equity: activities are aligned with, help to identify, or create community values
Collaboration: creates connections or opportunity for those with barriers
Adaptability: incorporates human-centered design by positioning clients as decision makers

Application deadline is 11:59 PM on April 25th, 2018. Grantees will be notified on May 1, 2018.

Ignite Culture

A mentoring workshop + pitch competition for projects building community culture

New Sun Rising believes that embracing the unique characteristics and knowledge of people is critical to promoting equitable change in our region. By building awareness of our culture, we can better understand the shared values that lead to trust and resiliency.  

Projects which creatively engage, explore, or express culture within their community are encouraged to register for the Ignite Culture workshop on March 24th. Participants will be eligible for awards (taxable) to start their project. While everyone can apply, we strongly encourage projects from NSR Launch communities (Allentown, Beltzhoover, Knoxville, McKees Rocks, Millvale, Northside, Wilkinsburg) and fiscally-sponsored projects.

Registration is full

What to expect

Ignite Culture propels idea development for businesses, projects, and their leaders through a one day ignite & pitch workshop. Bring your new idea to work through with peers. Those who are interested (up to 10) have the option to enter the pitch competition for $5,000 in total financial awards.

Through a one-page business plan, workshop participants will receive mentoring and a quick primer on pitching your idea. Awarded projects must be completed by November 30th, 2018 and help create community vibrancy.

Vibrancy Funds

New Sun Rising is pleased to announce the Vibrancy Funds, a new funding opportunity to launch organizations and collaborations who build culture, sustainability, and opportunity within their community. Led by the generous support of the Henry L. Hillman Foundation, the fund will support people who promote innovation, engagement, and equity in the Pittsburgh region.

 

Supported by:

Choolaah Indian BBQ

 

Moose Mosaic Fundraiser

Community art and public symbols matter… they can help set the tone for revival and inspire residents and visitors alike. As New Sun Rising transforms the Millvale Moose into a welcoming space for growth and innovation we’ve collected visitors’ thoughts and images about what vibrancy means to them. This vision inspired glass mosaic artist Daviea Davis to create a stunning piece of artwork for this fundraiser.

BECOME A PART OF THE ART

Sponsor blocks of the Millvale Moose Mosaic and have your support recognized in various ways. Sponsorship packages (click to see options) are varied to include:

  • Your name on the mosaic and/or donor plaque
  • VIP invitation to the Moose Grand Opening + Mosaic Unveiling Party (Summer 2018)
  • Sponsor recognition at the NSR Vibrancy Awards (Fall 2018)

AMPLIFY OUR IMPACT, DONATE TODAY!

67% of the center mosaic panel is already sponsored (see image on left for updates)

Moose Mosaic Campaign

$3,028 of $15,000 raised
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Donation Total: $100 One Time

SUPPORT CULTURE, SUSTAINABILITY, + OPPORTUNITY

When you donate to New Sun Rising, you are supporting hundreds of social businesses and nonprofits who make our region more vibrant. Consider it your investment in the mutual fund of community goodness.

  • Exploring and celebrating culture
  • Building resiliency and sustainable practices
  • Creating economies with equitable opportunity

Launch Wilkinsburg

Launch Wilkinsburg is a civic innovation lab, supporting the development of a vibrant community through social businesses, nonprofit projects, and community engagement.

Meet the Projects

 

Vibrant Communities Focus

Launch Wilkinsburg is committed to equitable community development and implemented in partnership with the Wilkinsburg Chamber of Commerce.   In order to determine which areas of impact are top priority, we reviewed community planning documents, surveyed stakeholders through our Vibrancy Index, and held an interactive public forum. This local stakeholder insight and discussions identified community values and priorities for development including:

  1. Community Awareness + Engagement
  2. Arts + Culture
  3. Vacant Properties + Lots
  4. Main Street Business Development
  5. Education
  6. Safety + Crime Reduction
  7. Environmental Sustainability
  8. Public Spaces

Additionally, the Ignite Wilkinsburg workshop connected over 30 startup leaders and mentors to further their plans, strategic connections, and identify resources.

Media coverage

Read the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette article

KDKA Sunday Business Page

Pittsburgh City Paper

Ignite Northside

One Northside is a community-driven initiative to improve the quality of life in all 18 Northside neighborhoods of Pittsburgh. Since 2016, through the support of The Buhl Foundation, New Sun Rising has helped 139 Northside residents and community members put their ideas into action through the One Northside Consensus Plan’s focus on Quality of Education, Employment, Place, Safety, and Health.

Apply for a Minigrant Here

Hear from Minigrant Project Leaders

CLICK HERE FOR THE ONE NORTHSIDE MINIGRANT REPORT FORM

 If you are working towards COVID relief projects, please reach out to vibrancyfunds@newsunrising.org for an application noting what your project will help.

DEADLINES AND HOW TO APPLY

 

Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis and reviewed bi-monthly. Decisions are typically announced by the beginning of the month starting in September. .  In order to meet these deadlines, applicants must  submit applications by 11:59pm on:

  • August 21, 2020
  • October 16, 2020
  • November, 20 2020 (pending Fund availability

Click here for a printable application

Because of Covid 19, please have 3 different Northside residents or business owners email vibrancyfunds@newsunrising.org with their name, the project they are supporting, their northside address and their phone number or have them call 412-407-9007 with the same information.

2019-2020 Report

Mini-Grant Program

New Sun Rising is excited to announce the 2019 One Northside Mini-Grant program! The program ignites resident-led community projects with up to $1,000 and the development support of New Sun Rising and the Mini-grant Street Team. How would you improve the quality of education, employment, place, safety, or health in your Northside community?

 

HISTORICAL DATA


2018-19 Mini-grant Project Interactive Map

 

 

 

Learn more about the projects and get involved

 

Ignite Northside Media

 

 

Mini-grant expands after school reading program in Northside

 

 

 

 

Placemakers find funding through One Northside Mini-grant program

 

 

 

 

One Northside mini-grants fund community-driven projects

 

 

 

 

 

2018 One Northside Mini-grant Program

 

 

 

 

One Northside….The Story

 

 

 

 

Ignite Northside: 2017 Social Business + Project Incubator

 

 

 

 

Ignite Northside 2017: Showcase + Celebration Recap

 

 

 

 

iXMessage: An Ignite Northside Story

 

 

 

 

Ignite Northside: 2016 Recap

 

 

 

New Business New Beginnings w/ Riverside Center for Innovation 2016

 

 

 

 

Family Legacy Dinner: An Ignite Northside Story

 

 

 

 

Ignite Northside at Heathside Cottage

 

Supported by:

Work Hard Pittsburgh

Work Hard Pittsburgh creates services and relationships that position Allentown as the Southern hub for inclusive business development in the City of Pittsburgh and surrounding neighborhoods. Their social impact projects seed programming that will better position the region to grow and attract talent, money, and business. It includes: Launching of a Software Academy that produces 8-15 second-career software engineers every 12 weeks, and Services to the Street produces, distributes, and  designs impact measurement of digital media and marketing content to the mainstreet corridor of Allentown.

Intervention Fundamentals Financial Assistance Fund

According to the 2011 PA Autism Needs Assessment:

  • 95% of pre-school age children with autism require assistance eating. More than 10% of them still require support as adults.
  • ¼ of adults with autism and nearly 95% of pre-elementary children with autism are not able to independently communicate their wants.
  • Greater than 70% of pre-school age children and 20% of adults with autism are not toilet trained.

Zachary Benkovitz & Randall Keech founded Intervention Fundamentals in November 2014 to serve families who have struggled to teach their children these skills within the context of conventional supports. Intervention Fundamentals empowers families by enlisting their active participation in the teaching process as we provide them with high-intensity outcome-based training.

Our interventions target essential skill development in four functional areas: toileting, communication, feeding &sleeping. Guiding parents as they teach their child new skills within the unique context of their family’s daily life yields rapid & robust results, and instills all family members with greater confidence as they pursue continued fulfillment of their child’s potential.

However, not every family is in the position to pay out-of-pocket for our services. We have met with numerous families who need help teaching one or more of these skills to their child, but cannot afford our services. In December 2016 we established a Fiscal Sponsorship with New Sun Rising to launch Intervention Fundamentals’ Financial Assistance Fund. This fund will allow any family who has struggled to teach their child these basic skills within conventional supports — not only those with the financial means — to access our services. We are grateful for the initial donation, enough to allow us to serve three families on our financial wait-list, made by one of the families we worked with in 2016.